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US to Freeze Visa Issuance from 75 Countries

Published January 14, 2026, 16:12
US to Freeze Visa Issuance from 75 Countries

The US government under President Donald Trump has announced it is freezing all visa issuance processes for citizens from 75 countries, starting January 21st. The decision, according to Fox News, is based on a State Department memo. The list of countries includes Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand. The State Department has not yet commented on the report. Fox News reports that US embassies have been instructed to deny visa issuance based on current legislation, while the State Department reassesses its procedures. No timeframe has been given for the completion of the reassessment. This decision follows Trump's commitments in November to “permanently halt” immigration from “Third World countries,” following a shooting near the White House that resulted in the death of a National Guard member.